Thread: Engine Ping/knock help!!!

I was cleaning my engine one day and I heard a pop on the right side of my engine in between the brake master cylinder and the driver side suspension hub. However, when I look to see what it was I didn't see any sparks or any smoke so I thought it was nothing. But the next day when I went to drive it I heard a slight pinging/knocking sound whenever I pressed the accelerator and I also didn't have the power as before. So I took it to a mechanic and he said that it sounds likes a rod or wrist pin going out, but he was puzzled at how extremely quite it was at idle. Also whenever I first crank the car it runs without the noise but the longer I drive it the noise comes back. I believe that I could have popped a sensor or something because if it was a rod or wrist pin wouldn't it make the noise all the time but I'm not for sure. I've read that a knock sensor could cause the same thing. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

The was cool and when I began to rinse it down I started the car. I used a garden hose (which I was told I shouldn't have). Has stock headers and I haven't checked the compression on it. Its not missing and it runs smooth; however, I have lost a lot of power because if I turn my steering wheeling w/o pressing the gas it acts like it wants to shut off and it has actually shut off twice when I was turning the wheel w/o pressing the gas.

I've had a bad MAF sensor before actually changed it about two months ago and it didn't cause the engine ping. I've read that the knock sensor could cause a ping, do you know if any other sensors can cause this?

No it actually started the next day but I didnt drive the car after I cleaned it all up. I parked it and drove it the following day and thats when it started. Its a little upsetting because I just got my intake gasket changed and the radiator changed and just recently got it all painted too and now I'm having this problem after spending sooooo much money.